{"product_id":"great-plains-rat-snake","title":"Great Plains Rat Snake","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eCommon Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Great Plains Rat Snake\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eScientific Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003ePantherophis emoryi\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSource:\u003c\/strong\u003e CB\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAdult Size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 90–120cm (roughly 3–4ft)\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNative Range:\u003c\/strong\u003e Central United States and northern Mexico, from Nebraska and Colorado south through Texas into the Chihuahuan Desert region\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEnclosure:\u003c\/strong\u003e A minimum \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/viperia.co.uk\/products\/120x45x45cm-4ft-pvc-vivarium\" style=\"color:#1a73e8;text-decoration:underline;\"\u003e120×45×45cm Viperia PVC vivarium\u003c\/a\u003e, furnished with a dry substrate such as aspen or coco coir, multiple snug hides at both the warm and cool ends, and low-level cork bark or smooth branches for occasional climbing enrichment\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeating:\u003c\/strong\u003e A warm basking spot of around 30–32°C, a cool end ambient of 22–24°C, with a gentle night drop down to 18–20°C\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHumidity:\u003c\/strong\u003e 40–50% as a general baseline; achieved by lightly misting the cool end of the enclosure every few days and using a partially moisture-retaining substrate — avoid keeping the enclosure overly damp\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUVB:\u003c\/strong\u003e A 6% UVB tube run along most of the vivarium's width, positioned so the animal can bask 25–35cm from the lamp — while rat snakes are largely crepuscular, low-level UVB supports natural behaviour and overall wellbeing\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDiet:\u003c\/strong\u003e Appropriately sized defrosted mice or rats; juveniles typically feed every 5–7 days, adults every 10–14 days — always offer prey using tongs and never feed live rodents\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eABOUT THIS SPECIES\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Great Plains Rat Snake is a slender, naturally curious colubrid native to the open grasslands, rocky scrubland, and semi-arid plains of central North America. With its warm buff-to-grey base colouration and crisp dark dorsal blotching, it has an understated elegance that sets it apart from more commonly kept rat snakes — and its compact adult size makes it an excellent choice for keepers who want something a little different without needing a huge amount of space.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese snakes tend to settle into captivity readily, becoming calmer and more handleable with regular, gentle interaction — making them well suited to confident beginners and intermediate keepers alike. They are active and inquisitive animals that reward a well-structured enclosure with visible, engaging behaviour, and their modest care requirements make day-to-day keeping straightforward and enjoyable.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Viperia","offers":[{"title":"Unsexed","offer_id":54783620055377,"sku":"great-plains-rat-snake - 001","price":74.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1077\/6952\/8657\/files\/Great-Plains-Rat-Snake_2.jpg?v=1788426902","url":"https:\/\/viperiareptiles.co.uk\/products\/great-plains-rat-snake","provider":"Viperia Reptiles","version":"1.0","type":"link"}